Air date: June 7th, 2017 (UK)
One autumn morning, the Fat Controller comes to Tidmouth Sheds and has very exciting news; he and the Mayor of Sodor are going to a ball at Callan Castle and he needs an engine to take both of them to the castle. James volunteers to do it, for which The Fat Controller agrees and James promises to do all his jobs without complaining.
At the docks, James boasts to Cranky about collecting the Mayor and the Fat Controller. Cranky, suddenly, slips some of the sugar sacks with sea water splashing all over James. James is worried that his paintwork will be ruined, but he just keeps smiling. Later, James passes Farmer McColl's farm when Thomas passes and accidentally splashes mud all over James' face. James is fed up, but still stays smiling. He then goes under the coal hopper, but Stafford is shunting trucks and James suddenly gets coal dusts flows down all over him. Along the way, James meets Edward at the Sodor Bakery. James tells him that he needs a washdown before he can meet the Mayor. Edward asks if James needs help to do all of his jobs, but James declines. At the washdown, a workman notices that James has a scratch in his paintwork. James is horrified and hurriedly rushes to the Steamworks. Victor is worried that his paint will not be dry on time. James knows that the wind to Callan Castle will be stronger and able to dry him on time.
After he gets repainted, James makes his way to collect the Fat Controller and the Mayor; however, his paint is not dry. The wind blows dusts, twigs and leaves onto James' paintwork. James later notices this and feels rather silly. James asks Edward to pick up Sir Topham Hatt and the Mayor for him.
Despite all of the hard work, the Fat Controller comes to the sheds and says that James should have ignored his scratch to finish his special job. Edward vouches for James that he was working very hard all day. With the rest of the engines giggling except Edward, the Fat Controller orders James to go back to the Steamworks to be repainted again.
Once James is back at the Steamworks, he is once again repainted and is waiting for his paint to dry. A surprise awaits James: the Mayor of Sodor. The Mayor tells James that Edward was happy to help in collecting him and the Fat Controller. James tells him that Edward was very kind. The Mayor decides that he will invite James to a dinner at Vicarstown. James is honoured to take him. The Fat Controller wants to go, but the Mayor says he will only be needing James tonight. By the end of the day, James is very proud to be taking the Mayor. Edward knows that James is more splendid than ever, for which James happily agrees.
This episode contains examples of:
- Big Ego, Hidden Depths: Even when he's his usual egotistical self, when James promises Sir Topham Hatt that he'll get all his jobs done, he means it — even when his jobs cause him to become filthy, he sticks to them and refuses help from Edward. And after his hasty repaint causes his paintwork to get damaged, he asks Edward to take the Mayor's train instead so his appearance doesn't ruin their evening, prioritizing the job over his own ego. Thanks to these moments, Edward vouches on James's behalf later.
- Borrowed Catchphrase: When he arrives to collect Sir Topham Hatt and the Mayor in James's place, Edward borrows his catchphrase: "Heeere's Edward!"
- Comical Overreacting: James is so mortified over the minor scratch in his paintwork that he runs off to be completely repainted with no time for it to dry, which costs him his chance to take the special train. Sir Topham Hatt calls him out on it the next morning.
- Delayed Reaction: When one of the cleaners tells James about the scratch, James takes a second before it registers and he panics.James: What is it?
Cleaner: Uh, nothing, James. Just a... Just a little scratch on your paintwork.
James: Oh, a scratch... A SCRATCH!?! - Earn Your Happy Ending: Despite his ordeal with his paint and being reprimanded by Sir Topham Hatt, James does get to take the Mayor on a special train the following evening with his paintwork restored.
- The Freelance Shame Squad: The other engines, except Edward, laugh at James being covered in leaves.
- What the Hell, Hero?: The Fat Controller reprimands James for not showing up to take him and the Mayor as promised and for worrying about the scratch on his paint, though he is pleased with him finishing all of his jobs.
